Irrigating-ditches



{No Model.)

D. D. MoILVOY.

, IRRIGATING-DITGH. No. 254,674. Patented Mar. 7.1882.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR y QETORNEYS.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DENNIS 1). MoILVOY, on GOLDEN, COLORADO.

lRRlGATlNG-DITCHES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 254,674, dated March '7, 1882.

Application filed November 19, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DENNIS D. McILvoY, of Golden, in the county of Jefferson and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Irrigating-Ditches, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,in which similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of a part of a ditch to which my improvement has been applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the same, taken through the line 00 m, Fig. 2. Fig. at is a sectional end elevation of the same, taken through the line y y, Fig. 2.

The object of this invention is to prevent irrigating-ditches from being filled with sand or other sediment, and the said sediment from being spread over the land.

The invention consists of an-irrigating-ditch made with a depression in its bottom and a discharge-opening closed by a gate at the side of the said depression, whereby the ditch can be cleared of sediment by the action of the water passing through the said ditch and the sediment kept from being spread over the land; also, in the combination, with the ditch and the depression, having side dischargeopening, of the guide-plate, whereby the action of the outflowing water is made more effective in clearing the said depression of sediment; and also in the combination, with the ditch, of the small hole having side opening and covered with a slotted plate, whereby the heaviersediment is drawn out, and is thus kept from passing down the ditch, as will be hereinafter fully described.

A represents a ditch, in which at suitable .points, and at such distances apart as may be desired, are formed depressions B, the bottoms of which meet the bottom of the ditch upon the upstream side 'at an inclination or grade much steeper than the regular grade of the ditch A. The downstream side of the depression B is vertical, or nearly so, as shown in Fig. 1. The size of the depression or trap B must depend upon the amount of sediment entering the ditch A with the water.

(No model.)

In the side of the ditch A, at the lowest part of the depression B, is formed an opening,G,leading into a branch ditch,D, through which the sediment may be conducted into a place where it will do no harm. The opening 0 is closed by a gate, E. The deeper part of the depression B is covered with a plate,F, the upper surface of which is upon the same grade as the bottom of the main ditch A. The upstream end of the plate F is supported by one or more posts, G,as the width of the ditch may require. With this construction, when the gate E is opened, the outflow of the water will carry out all the sediment that may have settled in the depression B, the current being made more effective by the plate F, that covers the deeper part of the depression, and forms therewith acontracted passage, through which the water is obliged to pass.

At the head of the ditch A is placed the headgate H, by means of which the water is let into and shut out of the said ditch A, as desired.

In the bottom of the ditch A, a little below the head-gate H, is formed a well-hole, I, from the lower part of which an opening, J, leads into a branch ditch, K. The top of the wellhole I is covered with a plate, L, through which and crosswise of the ditch A is formed a narrow slot or opening, M, as shown in Figs.1,2, and 4. The openings M J are always open, and the suction of the water through the opening M draws down the heavier parts of the sediment passing down the ditch, and thus relieves the depressions B, which have only to receive the lighter sediment, and can thus be cleared by a less outflow of water than would otherwise be necessary.

With this improvement the water is made to clear the ditch of sediment, and the sediment is kept from being spread over the land and injuring it.

This improvement is especially important where water enters the ditch from quartz-mills, as the quartz-sand is very injurious to arable land.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An irrigating'ditch made,substantially as herein shown and described, with a depression, B, in its bottom and a discharge-opening, O,

3. In an irrigating-ditch, the combination, with the ditch A, of the well-hole I, having side opening, J, and covered with a slotted plate, L, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the heaviersediment is drawn out and is thus kept from passing down the ditch, as set forth.

DENNIS DONNELLEY MGILVOY.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH T. BOYD, E1). T. BOYD.

closed by a gate, E, at the side of the said depression, whereby the ditch can be cleared of sediment by the action of the water passing through the said ditch and the sediment kept from being spread over the land, as set forth.

2. In an irrigating-ditch, the combination, with the ditch A, and the depression B, having side discharge-opening O, of the plate F, substantially as herein shown anddescribed,\vhereby the action of the outflowing water is made more effective in clearing the said depression of sediment, as set forth. 

